Manatee County Parks hosts World Tai Chi activities on Saturday, April 28

Each year, thousands gather across the globe to practice Tai Chi and Qigong. For the fourth year in a row, G.T. Bray will host events to celebrate this gentle fitness practice. Beginning in New Zealand, Saturday's event will spread time zone by time zone across the globe through 60 countries and six continents. Promoting calm and wellness worldwide, this free event will feature local instructors who lead participants in a variety of mini classes. Each instructor will demonstrate their specialty in Tai Chi or Qigong and event participants will have the chance to follow along and practice too.

 

“We are excited to once again bring this health practice to Manatee County and to share it with the community on a larger scale,” said Aedan Stockdale, Volunteer and Education Program Manager for Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department. “We began offering free and low cost Tai Chi classes quarterly at Robinson Preserve as part of our ‘Vitamin N’ program, promoting health and wellness in the preserves five years ago.

"Along with yoga, running and walking and meditative walks, this program is intended to provide participants with a healthy dose of vitamin nature," Stockdale said. "Through this event Manatee County residents and visitors can be part of something larger, our community in breath and in step with the rest of the world.”Tai Chi and Qigong are movement practices that evolved over several thousand years of research in China and are now growing in popularity worldwide. They are used in hospitals, business, prisons, schools and other institutions. Tai Chi and Qigong have been shown in research to reduce anxiety, depression and chronic pain conditions. The practice can boost the immune system, improve respiratory function, burn calories, dramatically improve balance and provide powerful stress management tools.

Ten instructors will donate their time and talents to host a sampling of mini classes for participants. Each of these teachers are donating their time to the 9th annual event, held for the fourth year at G.T. Bray. Shi Hon Dr. Brian Nell has taught Tai Chi in Manatee County’s Parks and Preserves for over five years, offering free and low cost classes at Robinson Preserve and weekly classes at G.T. Bray as part of the Center’s fitness program.

 

The event is co-sponsored by Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department and Cypress Pillar Healing Arts. For more information, visit the Facebook event or email Stockdale at [email protected].